Quranic (classical) Arabic
This is the Arabic of the Quran, the hadith and the classical books. Its grammar is the same grammar taught today as fuṣḥā, but some words and styles are older. If your main goal is to understand the Quran and the prayer, this is your target, and it is reached through the same basic grammar as Modern Standard Arabic.
Modern Standard Arabic (fuṣḥā)
Modern Standard Arabic (الْفُصْحَى) is the Arabic of books, news, official letters, signs and formal speeches across the whole Arab world. It is very close to classical Arabic: the grammar is the same, with modern vocabulary added. It is understood everywhere from Morocco to Oman, though people rarely chat in it at home. This is what Harf teaches.
Spoken dialects
At home and in the street, people speak a local dialect: Saudi, Gulf, Egyptian, Levantine, Iraqi, Moroccan and others. Dialects simplify the grammar and use different everyday words; for example “what?” is مَاذَا in fuṣḥā but إِيش in much of Saudi Arabia and إِيه in Egypt. Dialects from far apart (Morocco and Iraq, say) can be hard for each other to follow.
Which should you learn first?
If you want the Quran, prayer and Islamic knowledge, start with fuṣḥā. It opens the Quran and the books, and it is understood everywhere. If you live or work in an Arab country and mainly want to chat with people, learn the basics of fuṣḥā (reading and core grammar) and then add the local dialect. If you are a heritage learner who wants to talk with family, start with your family’s dialect, and add fuṣḥā for reading later.
Can you learn both?
Yes, and most learners eventually do. Fuṣḥā gives you the solid base: grammar, reading and a large vocabulary. A dialect then mostly means learning a set of everyday words and shortcuts. Going the other way is harder, because a dialect learned only by ear leaves you unable to read. If you live in Saudi Arabia, Harf’s Saudi Arabic phrases give you the everyday words alongside the fuṣḥā lessons.
Where to start on Harf
Begin with the alphabet, then the grammar lessons and vocabulary. If your goal is the Quran, follow our plan for learning Quranic Arabic as well.
